Communist Party of the Soviet Union

Quick Facts: Who was Communist Party of the Soviet Union?

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Communist Party of the Soviet Union

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The founding and ruling political party of the Soviet Union, guiding its ideology until 1991.

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Origins & Early Life

The Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU), abbreviated in Russian as КПСС (KPSS), also known at some points as the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks), the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks), the Bolshevik Party, and the Soviet Communist Party, was the founding and ruling political party of the Soviet Union. The CPSU was the sole governing party of the Soviet Union until 1990 when the Congress of People's Deputies modified Article 6 of the 1977 Soviet Constitution, which had previously granted the CPSU a monopoly over the political system. The party's main ideology was Marxism–Leninism. The party was outlawed under Russian president Boris Yeltsin's decree on 6 November 1991, citing the 1991 Soviet coup attempt as a reason. The party started in 1898 as part of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP).

Career & Major Achievements

In 1903, that party split into a Menshevik (m) ("minority") and Bolshevik (b) ("majority") faction; the latter, led by Vladimir Lenin, is the direct ancestor of the CPSU and is the party that seized power in the October Revolution of 1917. Its activities were suspended on Soviet territory 74 years later, on 29 August 1991, soon after a failed coup d'état by conservative CPSU leaders against the reforming Soviet president and party general secretary Mikhail Gorbachev. The CPSU was a communist party based on democratic centralism. This principle, conceived by Lenin, entails democratic and open discussion of policy issues within the party, followed by the requirement of total unity in upholding the agreed policies. The highest body within the CPSU was the Party Congress, which convened every five years.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

When the Congress was not in session, the Central Committee was the highest body. Because the Central Committee met twice a year, most day-to-day duties and responsibilities were vested in the Politburo, (previously the Presidium), the Secretariat and the Orgburo (until 1952). The party leader was the head of government and held the office of either General Secretary, Premier or head of state, or two of the three offices concurrently, but never all three at the same time. The party leader was the de facto chairman of the CPSU Politburo and chief executive of the Soviet Union. The tension between the party and the state (Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union) for the shifting focus of power was never formally resolved.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1898: 1898 Milestone — The party started in 1898 as part of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP).
2. 1903: 1903 Milestone — In 1903, that party split into a Menshevik (m) ("minority") and Bolshevik (b) ("majority") faction; the latter, led by Vladimir Lenin, is the direct ancestor of the CPSU and is the party that seized power in the October Revolution of 1917.
3. 1952: 1952 Milestone — Because the Central Committee met twice a year, most day-to-day duties and responsibilities were vested in the Politburo, (previously the Presidium), the Secretariat and the Orgburo (until 1952).
4. 1990: 1990 Milestone — The CPSU was the sole governing party of the Soviet Union until 1990 when the Congress of People's Deputies modified Article 6 of the 1977 Soviet Constitution, which had previously granted the CPSU a monopoly over the political system.
5. 1991: 1991 Milestone — The party was outlawed under Russian president Boris Yeltsin's decree on 6 November 1991, citing the 1991 Soviet coup attempt as a reason.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Communist Party of the Soviet Union

True or False: “Did the CPSU maintain a monopoly over the political system throughout its entire existence?”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The monopoly was modified in 1990 by the Congress of People's Deputies, altering Article 6 of the Soviet Constitution.

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